Meganck, Glenn 1955-

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Meganck, Glenn 1955-

(J.R. Ripley)

PERSONAL:

Born 1955.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Boca Raton, FL; Brussels, Belgium. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer and musician. CD's include Lost in Austin.

WRITINGS:

AS GLENN MEGANCK; CHILDREN'S FICTION, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Big Deal, illustrated by Jon Ward, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 1998.

Big Deal at the Center of the Earth, illustrated by Jon Ward, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 1999.

Big Deal and the Fountain of Youth, illustrated by Jon Ward, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2000.

No Big Deal, illustrated by Jon Ward, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2000.

It's a Young, Young World (science fiction), Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2003.

George and the Angels, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2006.

AS J.R. RIPLEY; MYSTERIES

Stiff in the Freezer: A Tony Kozol Mystery, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 1999.

Skulls of Sedona, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2000.

Lost in Austin: A Tony Kozol Mystery, Long Wind (Ft. Pierce, FL), 2001.

The Body from Ipanema: A Tony Kozol Mystery, Long Wind (Ft. Pierce, FL), 2002.

Murder in St. Bart's, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2003.

Bum Rap in Branson, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2004.

Death of a Cheat, Beachfront (Bacon Raton, FL), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Glenn Meganck is a musician and writer who has written a series of illustrated children's chapter books in the "Big Deal" series and a science fiction novel. He also has written several mysteries under the pseudonym J.R. Ripley. In one of his children's books, No Big Deal, the third in the "Big Deal," series, young Jimmy encounters an alien named Eon, who is looking for a device he accidentally left behind that could turn humans into fish.

In the mystery Death of a Cheat, the author, writing as Ripley, tells of Gendarme Charles Trenet's investigation into the murder of a renowned seducer of women and finds that an old friend is a prime suspect. As a side plot, the locals are caught up in the Marbles on Sand competition. Jenny McLarin, writing in Booklist, noted that the author "demonstrates his talent and versatility." Library Journal contributor Michele Leber called Death of a Cheat "nice, light entertainment."

In addition to writing mysteries featuring Trenet, Meganck also pens mysteries featuring disheartened lawyer-turned-guitarist Tony Kozol. In Lost in Austin: A Tony Kozol Mystery, Kozol is filling in on guitar for a singer's band in Texas when he comes across a dead body back stage. He is also framed for possession of an illegal substance when someone puts drugs into his guitar case. Rex E. Klett, writing in the Library Journal, noted that assorted characters "add verve to the action-packed plot." Kozol is on another gig in Brazil with his bass-playing friend Rock when he becomes involved in the Ipanema underworld in the mystery The Body from Ipanema: A Tony Kozol Mystery. In addition, Kozol has fallen in love with a beautiful woman and must deal with her overly protective relatives. "Tony and Rock remain an engagingly laid-back sleuthing duo," wrote Wes Lukowsky in Booklist.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 15, 2001, Wes Lukowsky, review of The Body from Ipanema: A Tony Kozol Mystery, p. 707; January 1, 2006, Jenny McLarin, review of Death of a Cheat, p. 69.

Library Journal, December 1, 2005, Michele Leber, review of Death of a Cheat, p. 106; April 1, 2001, Rex E. Klett, review of Lost in Austin: A Tony Kozol Mystery, p. 137.

School Library Journal, August 2000, Elaine E. Knight, review of No Big Deal, p. 160.